Loropetalum plant named &#39;SUZUKI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Loropetalum  plant named ‘SUZUKI’ is disclosed, characterized by white flowers with a very sight pink flush, and strong heat tolerance and resistance to color change in extreme temperatures. Plant habit is very dense and full growing with very vibrant burgundy foliage. The new variety is a  Loropetalum , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Loropetalum chinense.

Variety denomination: ‘SUZUKI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Yuji Suzuki, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newLoropetalum varieties with new colors and forms. The open pollinationresulting in this new variety was made during 2005.

The seed parent is an unnamed, unpatented, Loropetalum chinense. Thepollen parent is unidentified. The new variety was selected in 2013 bythe inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2005 openpollination, in a nursery in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwoodterminal cuttings. This was first performed at a nursery in KawaguchiCity, Saitama, Japan, in June 2013 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 4successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUZUKI’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SUZUKI’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SUZUKI’ as a new and distinct Loropetalumcultivar:

1. Spring foliage color variegation.2. White flowers with a very slight pink flush.3. Compact and cascading plant habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUZUKI’ are comparable to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, the new variety ‘SUZUKI’differs in the following:

1. The new variety produces variegated foliage of pink, green and white,the seed parent has solid colored foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUZUKI’ are comparable to the patented,commercial variety Loropetalum ‘Shang-hi’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,331.The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘SUZUKI’ differs in thefollowing:

1. The new variety produces variegated foliage of pink, green and white,this comparator produces solid dark purple foliage.2. The new variety produces white flowers, very lightly flushed pink.This comparator produces pink flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color anoverhead view of a typical plant of ‘SUZUKI’ grown in a 2 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the flowers and foliage.

Age of the plant photographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from arooted cutting. The photograph was taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SUZUKI’ plants grown in a poly greenhouse, inGrand Haven, Mich. The growing temperature averaged from 18-27° C.during the day and from 5-10° C. during the night. The poly was presentfrom Fall through Winter, then removed in the Spring. Shade cloth wasused through the Summer. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Loropetalum chinense ‘SUZUKI’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative terminal cutting.-   Time to initiate roots: 18 Days at 27° C.-   Number of days to produce a rooted liner in Summer: 110 days at 27°    C.-   Root description: Thin to thick, fibrous, free branching and fleshy.    New roots are purple in color, aging to brown. Not accurately    measured with the R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Type of plant: Perennial shrub.-   Age of plant described: 2 to 3 years old.-   Container size of the plant described: 3 gallon.-   Growth habit: Semi-upright, mounded, cascading lower branches.-   Height: 23 cm.-   Plant spread: 76 cm.-   Growth rate: Good.-   Plant vigor: Good.-   Branching characteristics: Horizontal Branches originating from    base.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—37 cm.        -   Quantity.—20.        -   Diameter.—4.5 cm.        -   Stem color.—Greyed-brown 199B.        -   Aspect.—0-90, mostly horizontal branches.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Internode length: 1.5-2 cm.-   Stem pubescence: No.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Average length.—3 cm.        -   Average width.—2.75 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire to partially sinuate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly rough.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly rough.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Spring Variegation:            Red-Purple N74D with spots of Violet-Blue N92A and            Greyed-Purple 184C. Summer/Fall: Greyed-Purple N187A. Young            foliage under side: Spring variegation: Red purple 73C with            spots of Purple group N77A. Summer/Fall: Greyed-Green 191A.            Mature foliage upper side: Spring variegation: Some are            Green 139A, some Brown 200A with spots of Red purple 65A and            White group NN155A. Summer/Fall: Greyed-Purple N187A. Mature            foliage under side: Spring variegation: Yellow Green 144A,            some have spots of 186C. Summer/Fall: Greyed-Green 191A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Very            depressed, color indistinguishable from foliage. Venation            color under side: Yellow green 154B.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: Greyed-green            195B.

FLOWER

-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Umbel.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 3-4.-   Flower type: Strap-shaped.-   Flower aspect: Upwards and outwards.-   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem: 15-20.-   Quantity of flowers per plant: Around 100.-   Natural flowering season: Spring-Summer.-   Persistence: Self-Cleaning.-   Fragrance: None.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Diameter.—4 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-Green 195B with some faint Greyed-Red 181D.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—4.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Arrangement.—Irregular whorl.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth, silky all surfaces.        -   Length.—1.75 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm.        -   Tip.—Slightly retuse and petals are curled at the tips.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Green-white 157C. Lower            surface: Green-white 157C. Fully opened: Upper surface:            White N155B lightly flushed Red 56C. Lower surface: White            N155B lightly flushed Red 56C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—4.        -   Appearance.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent all surfaces.        -   Arrangement.—Whorl.        -   Shape.—Ovate and fused, slightly curled outward.        -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm.        -   Tip.—Entire (smooth).        -   Base.—Acute, slightly reflexed.        -   Margin.—Fused.        -   Color.—Mature upper side: Greyed-Green 195B. Mature under            side: Greyed-Green 195B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 2 to 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C.        -   Orientation.—Approximately 15 to 35 degrees angle of            emergence, aspect straight.        -   Strength.—Strong and flexible.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Filament length.—Average 1 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS White 155C.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Linear. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Near            RHS White 155C. Pollen: Amount: Scant. Color: Near RHS White            155B.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 mm.        -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Near RHS White 155C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS White 155C. Ovary:            Less than 1 mm, colored near Yellow-Green 150D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Lowest temperature tolerance: 5 to 10° F.-   Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility or resistance to    diseases or pests noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plantnamed ‘SUZUKI’ as herein illustrated and described.